Community Impact

March 22, 2021 | Mike Enright '88 (CLAS), University Communications, and Sean Flynn - UConn Communications

HuskyTHON Raises Over $1 Million For The Kids

The annual dance marathon raised $1,052,534.21 for Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

HuskyTHON students holding up the dollar amount raised this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced the most unusual year in UConn’s history, but this weekend HuskyTHON produced its usual results – raising an incredible amount of money for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

The dance marathon, which started in 2000, has developed into New England’s largest student-run philanthropy effort. It took place this weekend in a hybrid format and was the conclusion of fund-raising efforts that began in the fall.

Participants danced this weekend for a total of 18 hours, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s HuskyTHON raised $1,052,534.21 “for the kids” and approximately 3,000 student took part in it. Despite the pandemic, the total raised is the second-highest in the history of the event. Last year, UConn student raised over $1.5 million as the event was held in-person, just before UConn and the world shut down.

“The fact that we were able to raise over one million dollars during a global pandemic is absolutely mind-boggling to me,” says HuskyTHON Vice President of Communications Mitchell Lisowski ’21 (SFA). “In previous years and under normal circumstances, it was always about raising more money than the previous time and growing the organization. But, with the fact of what everyone is going through right now, it just feels amazing to be part of a team that raised over a million dollars.”

HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital. March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
President, Thomas Katsouleas talks with students at HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
President, Thomas Katsouleas talking with students at HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
President, Thomas Katsouleas talking with students at HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
President, Thomas Katsouleas posing for pictures with students at HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
President, Thomas Katsouleas playing a game with students at HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
(Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
HuskyTHON 2021, dance marathon, is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s, Hospital on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Lighting ceremony during HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Bags with sayings and wishes written on them for kids at Children’s hospital during HuskyTHON 2021 on March 20, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

This year’s HuskyTHON theme was “Imagine a World” to reflect the mission of bettering the lives of the children, their families and the nurses, doctors and staff of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

HuskyTHON was livestreamed on Saturday and Sunday and was accessible for all participants and their families. There was also limited in-person experiences both outside on the Student Union Terrace and inside the building’s Ballroom.

“We are very grateful to the University for all of the cooperation they provide us,” says Lisowski. “Our entire team had to be very flexible in the planning of HuskyTHON, but it came together seamlessly in the end.”